The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) in California is hiring a Supervising Attorney for its new division, the Indigent Defense Improvement Division (IDID).
IDID has a statutory mandate to provide training and technical assistance to improve indigent defense throughout California. The division is new, and this senior attorney position will have an opportunity to shape the mission and efforts of this division to have a real impact on improving access to quality indigent defense for all Californians. We are looking to hire creative, experienced, and flexible supervisors. This position will oversee the training side of the division. These roles are telework-eligible but require being a member of the California Bar membership and California residency.
Job Responsibilities include:
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of statewide training programs and written materials for indigent training programs;
• Preparing annual training program plans;
• Regularly assessing the needs of the field by staying up to date on changes in the law and gaps in training materials;
• Consulting and partnering with external and internal stakeholders on needs and opportunities to improve indigent defense training.
• Provide advice, expertise, and assistance to private counsel, public defenders, or members of criminal justice organizations on a variety of complex and sensitive issues, including issues related to the improvement of the overall quality of the criminal justice system and the coordination of functions and responsibilities with criminal justice agencies and organizations
• A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, the Sixth Amendment, racial equity, and the belief that everyone deserves zealous representation.
• Knowledge of legal research methods; rules of evidence, ethics and conduct of proceedings in trial and appellate courts of California and the United States. Ability to maintain current on changes to California law. Ability to perform complex legal research, analyze difficult and complex legal issues, and apply legal principals and precedents to new sets of facts preferred.
• Knowledge of the indigent defense system in California, including the various type of service delivery methods. Experience working as a public defender or contract attorney in California preferred.
• Knowledge of best practices and national trends in legal training. Experience preparing and presenting training materials, legal outlines, practice guides and/or advisories. Knowledge of training principles and practices for adult learners is preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively, and communicating effectively, with multiple stakeholders across the State including, but not limited to, public defender offices and contract panel systems, associations, working groups, community groups, as well as county and state level officials.
• Experience working in a team environment; developing and maintaining good working relations with all levels of staff; and maintaining security and confidentiality of privileged information in compliance with applicable laws.
• Ability to plan and direct the work of subordinate staff and effectively supervise the work of a group of attorneys and support staff; review and monitor training programs for efficacy and reach; initiate and review personnel matters; and effectively promote equal opportunity employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
• Ability to collect, incorporate and analyze data and present it clearly to internal and external audiences.
• Ability to be flexible, creative, and self-driven while working with the Executive Director of IDID and the State Public Defender to build out the staffing, workload and implementation of IDID’s mission.
• Experience with legislative work, coalition building, and data collection is preferred.
Please note that these are state civil service positions and require interested applicants to take and pass an “exam” before applying for the specific job. The “exam” is designed to evaluate an applicant’s knowledge, skill and ability to perform the duties of the classification – Supervising Deputy State Public Defender. Applicants with a passing score of 70% or higher are placed on an eligibility list and may apply for these positions. This eligibility list will be used by OSPD to fill vacancies in the IDID division as well as its Capital Appellate division. However, the IDID positions are NOT in any way death penalty related.
To apply and find more information please go to https://www.calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobContro...